Premise & Plot
Paige lived a sheltered life in the spotlight, and came out the other side worse for it all. She can't even sing anymore, something she made millions for only a few years ago. It's a shame all that money remained with the record company, and somehow she still owes them a few million more. While writing lyrics for the new wave of pop stars is okay, Paige can't help but feel like there's more out there for her than lyrics.

But what?

The majority of this was made on the 12th of March onwards. I've had the story written out for a while, though the development in the middle was fuzzy so that's gonna be the main challenge. Any assets that existed before the beginning of the project will (ideally) be replaced, but there is only really character sprites.

Themes/Warnings
This disclaimer is for those who may be impacted by dark themes. It details (in loose terms) themes explored through the visual novel.

This visual novel will include mentions of anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, assault, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, PTSD, self-harm, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, isolation, hopelessness, financial burden and potentially other triggering topics. There are segments of simulated panic attacks via images and sound. While the aim is to not be gratuitous, if you are sensitive to the above mentioned subject matter, please proceed with caution.

Character

Paige Reed
Ex-popstar and full time lyricist; Paige has lived in the spotlight from when she was twelve until... Well, two years ago. Now, she has a hard time outside and she cannot stand bars. Yet, that's where she finds herself, after months of badgering from...

Anna Raymonds
Professional skateboarder and currently a bassist; after a bad fall from their board, Anna ended up with more time on their hands than they know what to do with. They do not understand being told they can't have something or to chill out. This causes a number of issues between themself and their managers. They were the one who took encouraged Paige to escape the stranglehold of her manager, and of...

Murdoc Matthews (WIP)
Murdoc acted as security for Paige when she was on tour, and holds himself responsible for what happened to her. Due to a mutual friend with Anna, he's been hooked into a band with her. He's a singer and guitarist, while Anna plays bass. Their friend, Ryan, used to skateboard professionally before he retired to do music. Murdoc? After Paige escaped, he lost his job as tour security and bounces from festival to festival. Sometimes he's a personal bodyguard, but mainly he writes.

TBA
Bri Hyde | Ryan | Adam

Screenshots

Goals
- Finish my first game(!!!!!).
- Four endings, one good and one bad for each romantic path.
- Impact in player choices, variables that have an impact on options.
- Cohesive graphics for Paige, Murdoc, Anna and Bri.
- At least part one of the story; the exit of Adam.

Team
Just me, SlimeBunnyTV.

TidbitsThis is information that will likely come up in the game, but is important to note somewhere in the canon.
- Paige is 5'0" (though she wears 3" heels AT LEAST when out), Bri is 5'6", Murdoc is 6'0" and Anna is 6"3. Adam is a garbage'fire".
- This was Anna's original design.
- Anna is nonbinary, she/they pronouns. They tend to stick to the middle of the spectrum, with a skew towards masculine. They're indifferent to pronouns, but I tend to keep to the gender neutral.
- Murdoc was AFAB, and transitioned socially at the age of six (really, his whole life, he 100% rejected his birth name and his parents were A-OK with that). His medical transition began at the age of eleven, under the approval of a child psychologist, his parents and his own choice.

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:17 pm

by poorlyformed

oh, I love your art style. Looking forward to seeing more of this.

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Thank you so much! Yeah, I'm an artist primarily so this is a way to learn some coding without being too complicated. My Instagram & Tumblr have more of my other art! I hope you enjoy what ya see moving forward. ^_^

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 4:18 pm

by Boniae

Whoa!! Your art looks awesome and I'm really loving the premise. I'm super interested in playing this when it comes out, good luck with the development!!! (And I admire you for doing everything yourself, it's no easy feat!)

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Whoa!! Your art looks awesome and I'm really loving the premise. I'm super interested in playing this when it comes out, good luck with the development!!! (And I admire you for doing everything yourself, it's no easy feat!)

Visual novels allow me to nitpick my art but also progress story, so it brings all the elements together for me. (Also hours of tumblr theme editing and MySpace code has turned into visual novels......) Thank you so much! I hope I can do the story justice, I'm worried about not having enough exposition or too much. The NaNoRenO is gonna probably be a 'first chapter' thing.

Also, still playing with sprite styles but GOSH am I happier now Paige is less of a bobblehead.

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Yeah, Murdoc was someone I wanted to do justice to, so I'm gonna make sure to touch base with people throughout the writing process. I feel equipped to cover Anna's situation as someone who's nonbinary & researched into it, but I'd hate to make a blanket statement for any one group. I'm going to do my best with it though!

Right now I'm still trying to inject player choice in a somewhat meaningful way... I hope I can at least have an interesting demo by the end of the month!!

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:13 am

by SlimeBunnyTV

New sprites in action & a video added up the top. I've started playing with music, and have a musician working on the songs!

My boyfriend, Brendan, thank you buddy.

I'm aiming to have a chunky demo/concept piece by the end of the month though I doubt I'll have a FULL release of a game.

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:27 am

by milkteebaby

I really do love the artwork you're using. Good luck and I look forward to your progress!

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

I really do love the artwork you're using. Good luck and I look forward to your progress!

Thank you! Current challenges are the idea of CGs (like what style to do them........ ack) and updating character designs so they're on a similar level. While I'm drawing, I'm working thru the potential character plots. So much to do. The kind words helps immensely!

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 2:46 pm

by Widdershins

Really digging your style, and intrigued by your characters! Best of luck to you!

Re: Mistakes Were Made [NaNo18][Modern Slice Of Life][Visual novel][Romance]